none of the above
28 “What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. 30 The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did τὸ θέλημα the will, the wish, the desire of his father?”
They said, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him. Matthew 21:28-32 (NRSV)
The first paragraph is called "The Parable of the Two Sons." It may be fair to say that nothing is always true, because exceptions arise; but let us say that in the gospels when Jesus tells you a parable it not unlikely is singularly at you, and you need to look for something negative to perceive about yourself; and also, you may need to think twice about your answer. In fact, your answer may need to be either a question in retort, which in the gospels is often Jesus’ own style, or silence.
Where does Jesus, or the evangelist, get these stories? I’m not sure. I’m not even sure this qualifies as a parable, though I reckon it would without the question at verse 31a. I’m also not certain, sure or even confident about the connection between the parable, if that’s what it is, and the condemnation that Matthew has Jesus lay on "them" (he's in the temple conversing with hostile temple authorities) after what “they” said in response. Suppose Jesus’ question at verse 31a had been, “Which of the two honored his father?” The answer would be ambivalent, wouldn’t it, because the first shamed his father by answering, “I will not” but then honored his father by later going; while the second honored his father by saying, “I go, Sir,” but then shamed his father by not going. Each of the sons both honored and shamed the father. Which of the two did the right thing? “Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother.” Was the father’s will, wish, desire to be honored, or to be obeyed?
What would Jesus’ condemnation in verses 31b-32 have been if they had answered, “Neither,” or “Both,” or if instead of choosing from multiple choice they had given him an essay type answer, or launched into a discussion, which the parable seems to warrant rather than a one word answer. However, is there anything they could have said that would have pleased Jesus? Or was he pleased that they gave him the opportunity to condemn them?
The last time I preached on this gospel, the right answer was clear to me. I’m no longer so sure.
DThos+
They said, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him. Matthew 21:28-32 (NRSV)
The first paragraph is called "The Parable of the Two Sons." It may be fair to say that nothing is always true, because exceptions arise; but let us say that in the gospels when Jesus tells you a parable it not unlikely is singularly at you, and you need to look for something negative to perceive about yourself; and also, you may need to think twice about your answer. In fact, your answer may need to be either a question in retort, which in the gospels is often Jesus’ own style, or silence.
Where does Jesus, or the evangelist, get these stories? I’m not sure. I’m not even sure this qualifies as a parable, though I reckon it would without the question at verse 31a. I’m also not certain, sure or even confident about the connection between the parable, if that’s what it is, and the condemnation that Matthew has Jesus lay on "them" (he's in the temple conversing with hostile temple authorities) after what “they” said in response. Suppose Jesus’ question at verse 31a had been, “Which of the two honored his father?” The answer would be ambivalent, wouldn’t it, because the first shamed his father by answering, “I will not” but then honored his father by later going; while the second honored his father by saying, “I go, Sir,” but then shamed his father by not going. Each of the sons both honored and shamed the father. Which of the two did the right thing? “Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother.” Was the father’s will, wish, desire to be honored, or to be obeyed?
What would Jesus’ condemnation in verses 31b-32 have been if they had answered, “Neither,” or “Both,” or if instead of choosing from multiple choice they had given him an essay type answer, or launched into a discussion, which the parable seems to warrant rather than a one word answer. However, is there anything they could have said that would have pleased Jesus? Or was he pleased that they gave him the opportunity to condemn them?
The last time I preached on this gospel, the right answer was clear to me. I’m no longer so sure.
DThos+